Wednesday, October 31, 2007
KUMB cops it
I'm sure most of the Aussie Hammers would agree that the venerable website KUMB has been the best website to get your Hammers news for some years now, especially since the media have practically starved us of news pretty much since we got relegated.
So now the noose tightens a little more since KUMB writers have been banned from official media activities including match day interviews - see this link.
To many Aussie fans, KUMB provides what BBC/SKY won't, and what WHU-AU can't - detailed, up to date and reasonably accurate news. KUMB serve the West Ham internet community at large, filling the gaps where the paid media services just aren't interested. BBC in particular have been very slack in providing updates.
Of course most commercial media outlets are either so "neutral" that they are dull as ditchwater, or sensationalise every tidbit - usually negatively - so that you have no idea what's going on. And the official site will try to put a positive spin on everything, even to the point of restricting what type of news they will print. KUMB provides the balance for that without flaying the club, manager, or players unnecessarily, and is pretty much the only source of good old honest and reliable opinions from genuine fans. There have been times when otherwise seemingly disastrous scandals were put to rest by the truth printed on KUMB! In particular KUMB was the only site that would print interviews in full without editing. This had the benefit of seeing what managers really said without the Sunday rag spin on things.
Where will we get all of that now?
Shame on you, West Ham United PLC.
Posted by whubris at 6:25 am
TheRedRisky said...
85th minute Anton is injured and is replaced by Gabbidon.
Will this injury problem ever go away :'(
Dave said...
Yeah there's a few things I do not like about this new regime. I think they are very business minded and they like to keep things very close and not let anybody else have any piece of the pie.
norven munky said...
G, while I agree this is a monumentally stupid and shortsighted decision, I think your article is a little OTT.
The decision is confined solely to not giving KUMB access to press conferences.\
"KUMB provides the balance for that without flaying the club, manager, or players unnecessarily, and is pretty much the only source of good old honest and reliable opinions from genuine fans. There have been times when otherwise seemingly disastrous scandals were put to rest by the truth printed on KUMB! In particular KUMB was the only site that would print interviews in full without editing. This had the benefit of seeing what managers really said without the Sunday rag spin on things.
Where will we get all of that now?
"
The only bit out of 'all of that' that we won't get from KUMB is unedited transcripts of post match interviews.
Stupid decision? Yes. End of KUMB as a hammers fan resource? No.
whubris said...
Norven, no it won't be the end of KUMB, but it's certainly going to reduce the level of real news they will be able to produce, which is stuff we can't get elsewhere. If it gets any more restricted KUMB will be no better than the other sites - that just aren't as professional nor do they have the same level of access, and some have a habit of posting unsubstantiated and ridiculous claims. No commercial news site really provides anything remarkable except for match results and major injury news etc. They're focused on general public interest, who don't (as a generalisation) care about the details of any particular club. It's just not economically viable to cover every conceivable club to the extent that the fans of that club would like. We're always wondering how players' injuries are going, what they're doing, what they think about this and that, etc. You just don't get that stuff off commercial sites including the official site and BBC. The only site out there with (a) access to the information, (b) independence, (c) West Ham focus, and (d) an acceptable level of credibility (at least, in comparison to other fansites), is KUMB. For some time now West Ham PLC have been reducing the information fed to the media and the public, and for me this is just about the last straw - yes it's only denying match day access but there's an awful lot of info you get from that sort of thing that you just don't get elsewhere. I reckon this is a pretty big step in the wrong direction in terms of keeping the fan base happy.
norven munky said...
from KUMB :-
"I can now confirm that the club have kindly invited KUMB along to discuss this and other issues. Hopefully we can reach a conclusion that satisfies all parties.
In the meantime I'd like to thank everyone for their support on this issue - especially those who took the time to write to the club."
...Post a Comment ... Go to Forum
TheRedRisky said...85th minute Anton is injured and is replaced by Gabbidon.
Will this injury problem ever go away :'(
Dave said...Yeah there's a few things I do not like about this new regime. I think they are very business minded and they like to keep things very close and not let anybody else have any piece of the pie.
norven munky said...G, while I agree this is a monumentally stupid and shortsighted decision, I think your article is a little OTT.
The decision is confined solely to not giving KUMB access to press conferences.\
"KUMB provides the balance for that without flaying the club, manager, or players unnecessarily, and is pretty much the only source of good old honest and reliable opinions from genuine fans. There have been times when otherwise seemingly disastrous scandals were put to rest by the truth printed on KUMB! In particular KUMB was the only site that would print interviews in full without editing. This had the benefit of seeing what managers really said without the Sunday rag spin on things.
Where will we get all of that now?
"
The only bit out of 'all of that' that we won't get from KUMB is unedited transcripts of post match interviews.
Stupid decision? Yes. End of KUMB as a hammers fan resource? No.
whubris said...Norven, no it won't be the end of KUMB, but it's certainly going to reduce the level of real news they will be able to produce, which is stuff we can't get elsewhere. If it gets any more restricted KUMB will be no better than the other sites - that just aren't as professional nor do they have the same level of access, and some have a habit of posting unsubstantiated and ridiculous claims. No commercial news site really provides anything remarkable except for match results and major injury news etc. They're focused on general public interest, who don't (as a generalisation) care about the details of any particular club. It's just not economically viable to cover every conceivable club to the extent that the fans of that club would like. We're always wondering how players' injuries are going, what they're doing, what they think about this and that, etc. You just don't get that stuff off commercial sites including the official site and BBC. The only site out there with (a) access to the information, (b) independence, (c) West Ham focus, and (d) an acceptable level of credibility (at least, in comparison to other fansites), is KUMB. For some time now West Ham PLC have been reducing the information fed to the media and the public, and for me this is just about the last straw - yes it's only denying match day access but there's an awful lot of info you get from that sort of thing that you just don't get elsewhere. I reckon this is a pretty big step in the wrong direction in terms of keeping the fan base happy.
norven munky said...from KUMB :-
"I can now confirm that the club have kindly invited KUMB along to discuss this and other issues. Hopefully we can reach a conclusion that satisfies all parties.
In the meantime I'd like to thank everyone for their support on this issue - especially those who took the time to write to the club."
